Depth issue makes benchings less frequent

LOS ANGELES In years past, USC had a fairly firm, uniform rule about fumbles: If you put the ball on the turf, you put your rear end on the bench, perhaps for the rest of the game.

Those were different times, though, back when USC had a stable of four or five talented running backs. Now, depth issues — largely related to NCAA scholarship sanctions — limit the coaching staff's ability to use playing time as a punishment. That's an issue for USC, which has had trouble holding onto the ball.

The Trojans had a season-high three fumbles Saturday against Arizona and had two fumbles a week earlier. USC has lost 10 fumbles in eight games going into Saturday's game against Oregon.

The Trojans' challenge was on display against Arizona. Running back Curtis McNeal did not make the trip, so USC had starter Silas Redd plus backup D.J. Morgan, redshirt freshman Javorious Allen and walk-on John Akiba.

Redd fumbled early in the second quarter and was replaced on the next series by Morgan, but Redd was back on the field before the end of the half. Morgan then fumbled near the end of the third quarter and did not get a carry for the rest of the game.

Coach Lane Kiffin acknowledged Tuesday that USC doesn't use playing time as a discipline tool as much as it used to, because “sometimes there's just no answer to go to.''

“You still try to teach a lesson,'' running backs coach Kennedy Polamalu said. “The good thing is, they're good young men. They know. It's hard when they don't look you in the eye, and you're trying to get them to look you in the eye, but you know they already feel it, because it's been a big stress point.''

SAFE AND SOUND

The past couple days have been scary for running back Redd, whose immediate family lives in coastal Norwalk, Conn., in the path of Hurricane Sandy's devastation.

Redd said Tuesday morning that his family members were safe after seeking shelter in the basement. Their house had lost power and had suffered some broken siding and a broken fence.

GOOD INJURY NEWS

McNeal and offensive tackle Aundrey Walker returned to practice Tuesday in yellow no-contact jerseys. Walker missed all of last week's practices because of an apparent neck injury. True freshman Max Tuerk started in Walker's place.

Receiver Marqise Lee missed Tuesday's practice to prepare for a midterm. Morgan left practice after approximately 30 minutes for reasons unknown, but in no apparent discomfort.

COACHING CRACKDOWN

The NCAA announced changes in the way it hands out punishment to athletic programs. Most notably, harsher punishments have been put in place for the worst violations, and head coaches are now more liable for the actions of their assistants.

A head coach can now be subject to suspension unless it can be proved that he or she was totally unaware of the violations committed by an assistant.

“It comes with the responsibility,” Kiffin said. “You're the head coach. It's hard to know what everybody is doing, just like it's hard to know what your players are doing or what their relatives are doing, or all the things we've discussed before.”

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